Aiming to empower emerging Black and brown leaders in the community, the organization Northwest Credible Messenger utilizes a model called Healing to Hope, rooted in behavioral health and the wellness of young people. The organization recently hosted a three-day certification training for their leaders across Washington state, helping them reflect on their own experiences, overcome barriers, and consider how their personal wellness impacts their work in the community. 

Jason Clark, the executive director of the organization, explained that Northwest Credible Messenger helps bridge the gap between resources and youth connected to gangs and other negative environments that stunt their potential. The organization calls upon those who have successfully navigated away from similar paths to reach back and lead the youth in their community, showing them that options are limitless through systematic guidance along the way. 

Credible Messenger’s overall mission is to break cycles of poverty, incarceration, and gang violence in families by offering young people love, and leading them in the right direction. The model is an expansion from previous efforts in local beauty and barber shops to a community-embedded process for gang intervention. This approach extends opportunities for destigmatizing mental health, addressing trauma, and creating a stronger network for Black and brown communities to thrive. 

Catch Back2Besa every Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on FOX 13 Seattle and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on FOX 13+. Viewers can also stream episodes anytime on the FOX Local app. 

#Back2Besa #BesaGordon #NorthwestCredibleMessengers #UpliftingYouth #Community